The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-26
Ahout House Plants.

Susan Power, in Vick'S Monthly
The way house-plants thrive on the dregs of
coffee left at breakfast is admiration. Bowker
itself hardly turns out stronger LEAKAGE or such
thick bloom. The grounds are good mulch on
the top of the soil. but little care must be
given not to let them and get musty in
cOoliSh damp weather.
The great trouble with house plants, greater
than errors in watering, is letting the pots be
exposed to the sun. The fbrous roots soon
grow TO the side of the pot: and are there baked
in full sunshine, trebly hot coming through
are soon killed. The whole ball of earth is
baked over and over, daily. and yet people Won
der why they don't succeed with houseplants
Shade the sides of the pot always, either by
plunging in a box of sand, moss, cocoa fiber or
ashes, place thin board on edge across the
front of the plant shelf, that will come almost
to the top of the pots Let the plants have the
sun, but shade the pots. a good way to screen
them is to set each pot in one two sizes or
more larger, filling the space with moss or sand
The best gardeners say that the porous COM
mon pots are not so good for house plants as
those glazed or painted outside. The reason Is
that evaporation is constant from the sides of
the porous pots. and the roots not only dryer
but colder for it. The only objection to the tin
can for plants is its rust inside, which Injuries
the roots. If the can is coated inside by heat
ing and letting melted wax flow over the sides,
it will not rust, and with hole punched in the
lower end for drainage, it makes a very service
able plant holder 1t has the advantage of be-
ing deeper than most pots which ought to be
fully an inch deeper than common, to allow TOR
drainage. The directions are to put an inch of
crooks in the bottom. thin LAYER of moss
fiber over this to keep the soil from washing
down among the drainage, then little coarse
soil, then sprinkling of fine to make a bed for
the roots then the plant filling round the sides
with sol, sifted through quarter-inch mesh |
lost many plants before learning that fine soil
packs in pots sitting down and choking drain
age, so that the roots sour in the damp turn
black and decay. Yes I know the pots from
the nursery florist have one bit of crock over
the drains but he raises plants to SELL with as
little trouble as may be. and his plants have
porous, light soil, with just the right temper
allure, moisture and shading and so have less to
contend with than plants receive at your inexper-
fenced hands Give them the deepest salmon
noted for having pots too large, but not deep
enough. Five-inch pots will grow almost any
plant as large as you care to have them in the
window provided they have good drainage
fbroUs soil, are watered with stimulating mix
lures twice a week have the leaves sprinkled
before the is on them daily, and kept
from glazing Sit down close to the win
dow with the pouring through. and see how
long you can bear IT, and ask yourself how the
leaves and parching the roots in their close pots
Heliotropes. what with water at the roots and
sun in the middle of tho day get blaeiz spseks
on the leaves, and soon give over Towering.
The leaves of wooden plants, like Jasmines,
stand sun better, but even they turn yellow,
which is very bad sign such strong plants.
The morning sun is gold for plants. and you
when most things had better be shaded till two
or three. A thin curtain of Japanese paper let
down between the plants ard the glass is as
good as anything. 1t breaks the heat rays and
tempers the harsh light giving the softened
heat and light in which growing things luxuriate.